yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[G1 Apps and Games] Bobbywatts:
Still get ads on angry birds update... Just thought i'd let you know, just started using it. And think you done a great job. Thanks
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
If you enable TCP Dump it will save a list of all DNS hostnames/requests, then it's just a matter of picking out which hostname(s) need to be added...

For what it's worth I added about 3 hostnames associated with Angry Birds earlier today.
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
For all those developers that get upset about ads being blocked, you have the likes of Verizon and Facebook to thank for this app, the advertising can be tolerable, but the tracking is disgraceful.

http://yro.slashdot.org/story/11/10/17/0046253/verizon-wireless-changes-privacy-policy
[G1 Apps and Games] BeenAndroidized:
Check out this thread, maybe we can add the host file list to AdAway. Instead of everyone doing it manually.

[Host File] Block Ads, Trackers, Malware, Etc.
[G1 Apps and Games] NubKnacker:
Where is this file saved and on what port does the webserver run?
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
I don't know how many people are using AdAway, but we had to purchase a high end virtual system just for the host updates for AdFree because of all the traffic, and the AdFree updates are as compressed as I could make them etc.
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
/data/data/com.bigtincan.android.adfree/files/dns.dump

The webserver should run on port 80
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
The adfree website is currently in Beta, I was hoping to have this finished some time back, but life got in the way, so far it's a pretty simple website where you can add your own hosts to block or exclude from being blocked, as well as being able to enable additional lists of hostnames.

I'm also trying to figure out the best way that people can share their block lists with friends without causing any privacy issues.

Please let me know if anything is broken/not working.
[G1 Apps and Games] XlAfbk:
AdAway doesn't just provide 1 host-file that's served from its server but instead allows the user to specify host files to be downloaded and merged on the device. No server purchasing required.
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
I'm aware of that, but the person was suggesting to set them as defaults which would generate a lot of traffic to (potentially) personal sites and cost the person a lot of extra money to cover the extra bandwidth.
[G1 Apps and Games] BeenAndroidized:
@ delta_foxtrot2 - I do not recall suggesting anything as default. I was simply saying to add (includes) the list of adserver that provide the ads, so they can be block. The thread that I provided is not gear (not to my knowledge) toward AdAWay. The adserver list could probably be use with your AdFree.

Also, I was originally downloaded AdFree to try but it didn't block anything. I don't even know if AdAWay works either.

Sorry if I offended you, if I do, it is not intentionally. :o I was only trying to help.
[G1 Apps and Games] BeenAndroidized:
Updates. It looks like AdFree block ads now. :D
[G1 Apps and Games] BeenAndroidized:
Hmm, I am getting self reboot twice already within 3 hours after I installed AdFree. Don't know what is causing the problem. :confused:
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
You didn't offend, and I misunderstood your intention, however I was pointing out how much traffic can be generated which most people probably don't know about, but it can be a LOT of traffic, and at least one site looked like someone's hobby site, and I wouldn't like to be the guy left holding the bag and getting a bill for several TB/mo
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
AdFree doesn't run in the background so I'd be surprised if that was the cause.

Although a poorly coded app that doesn't properly handle it's ads could be the cause...
[G1 Apps and Games] BeenAndroidized:
Not a problem at all, right now I have to hold off on using AdFree, as I mentioned in the last post. After I installed AdFree, my G1 constantly reeboot by itself, and now it crashed on me. I have to reflashed my ROM. I'll have to see if it still happens and find out what is the root cause of the reboot/crashed.

---------- Post added at 02:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:35 PM ----------

Hopefully not, I wants to use it. It just happens to be right after I install it. Maybe I'll install that first without doing anything else and see if anything changes. ;)
[G1 Apps and Games] 5[Strogino]:
A mess with elements on v0.8.7

A mess with elements on v0.8.7

Devices: HTC Desire S, T-Mobile MyTouch 4G
[G1 Apps and Games] robdood:
Ok so after scanning various forums/etc am I correct in assuming the reason I still get ads on my rooted phone despite using adaway/adfree is because their hosts files aren't comprehensive enough?

How can I manually update the hosts file on my phone (I'm on a rooted SGS2 running CM7 if it makes any difference)? The file is read only while android is running, I had a quick look if I could access the system/etc folder via CWR but it didn't seem possible.

could someone please help? :)
[G1 Apps and Games] robdood:
Nvm, I found how to do it :)

(used terminal emulator and the CP command :))
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
Thanks for the screen shot, other people reported the problem but without out the screen shot the problem wasn't as obvious.
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
Well before attempting to edit via the command line, you need to work out which hosts you need to block, adfree now ships with tcpdump which will log dns requests to a text file, and then you can add additional hosts via the adfree website.
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
0.8.0 Added background image...

0.8.1 Fixed some bugs...

0.8.2 Added Mongoose, mini web server, and tcpdump to sniff DNS requests...

0.8.3+ Fixed authentication bugs/problems, force closure bug...

0.8.6 Fixed donation link

0.8.7 Added code to silently update the host file

0.8.8 Fixed layout to prevent overlapping elements
[G1 Apps and Games] M@rshy:
I am getting an error when trying to download and install hosts.

First off, my use symbolic link or whatever is gone.

But, when I try to download and install hosts, I get an error:

"java.io.IOException: unknown format(magic number 227b)"

I just tried uninstalling and reinstalling with no luck.
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
A quick google came up with 2 things, it might be to do with decompression and/or corruption and/or an OS bug, what OS/hardware are you using?
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
Someone just sent me a Japanese translation, there is no other changes so there is no pressing need to upgrade unless you want the app to appear in Japanese.

Apparently French and German will be along shortly.

If people are willing/able to do other translations please feel free to PM me and I'll email you the strings file.
[G1 Apps and Games] Uncensored:
Found another host to add to the list:

http://sweepstakesnow.mobi/
[G1 Apps and Games] West0000:
God I hate ads. I'm so glad for this app.
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
I've added that to the database.
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
I've never written a desktop app in java before, but I've been toying about porting AdFree code to the desktop.

Would anyone actually be interested in this?

If so, for which OS etc?
[G1 Apps and Games] XlAfbk:
imho there's no need for such an app. browser blocklists/extensions offer way more advanced filtering than a host file will ever be able to.
[G1 Apps and Games] etherea:
Ad Free updating problems & .it translation

Hello!

Since last week update I am not able to run AdFree correctly: it has been grant superuser permission and while I try to update the hosts list I get an error as you can see in this screenshot.

Besides, it shows every ad - even in apps I thought were not =)

Rebooted the phone several times and nothing changed; today's update seemed to fix the hostlist update, saying that I was correctly updated.

But still displays ads on all app provided with ads.

Running Android 2.1 (Eclair) on Motorola DEFY rooted with Z4Root, no ROM.

Moreover, is there any need for italian translation?
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
Are you able to pull out logcat details at all?

That error can be triggered in a number of places.
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
I agree with you 100%, but if there is anything I've learnt from AdFree it's that people want simple and easy to use, most people don't bother with browser based blocking because it's not simple and easy to use, and it's only browser based, plenty of people don't want ads/tracking turning up in other programs either.
[G1 Apps and Games] BeenAndroidized:
@ etherea - Open Superuser and remove AdFree out of the list. Reopen AdFree and it will ask you for access again. Allow it (I think it ask you twice). That happens to me before and that was how I fixed it.
[G1 Apps and Games] XlAfbk:
Using a third-party program is way less simple than an extension:

Program: Go to website - Download - Install - Start - Click button - Enter Admin password

Extension: Go to website - Download

And the issue with other programs showing apps is really a non-existant one. 99,9% of stuff people do on the web is in their browser and I can't remember when I've last seen some program showing ads.
[G1 Apps and Games] SolCutter:
didnt work samsung gt-i5800
[G1 Apps and Games] stm999999999:
since last updates my HTC Desire get stucked while it determines if the local host file is up to date!? waiting circle ...

my desire has LeeDroid v2.4.1

---------- Post added at 11:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:24 PM ----------

long time ago AdFree offered a webserver which returns a little pixel, to prevent the big "cannot find XXX" message in webpages.

But after a while this server was taken down because of the huge traffic.

Now Adfree has a build-in webserver. Is it possible to reintegrate the former feature, but now with this webserver on the android device?
[G1 Apps and Games] Uncensored:
Here's another http://m.meetmoi.com/
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
I'm still looking into what features mongoose offers, or if I have to extend it, but that is the plan yes.
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
What about malware?
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
That looks legit, what have they done?
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
0.8.11 Added code to catch exception on orientation locking

0.8.12 Hopefully fixed some IO errors

Apparently you can't use portrait at all on google TVs...
[G1 Apps and Games] ProfEngr:
if newegg.com is in the list it's preventing my email from downloading their promo images. this is a recent occurance so it may not be related to adfree.
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
It looks like promotions.newegg.com was added automatically to the database a few days ago, should this be exempted?
[G1 Apps and Games] Scudderb:
Hello...couple issues I'm having with the latest updates. I'm NOT sure when my last "working" version was but I have been updating through 0.8.12...

FORGIVE ME but I am not familiar with what a "symlink" does or some of the other options. In the past I have basically just "let the app do its thing" updating the hosts file as necessary and had relatively ad-free use of my phone. That is, up until recent updates.

I previously was toggling a "create symlink if needed" option on a prior version and that seemed to help to block ads that were "coming through." Again, as I said before, I have NO CLUE what the symlink option does. Now, however, for some reason, that symlink creation option is NOT SHOWING UP on my app!

The following are two screenshots...the first is from from the Market's description of the app...notice the checkbox options including "create symlink if needed":

Now this second screenshot if from my phone when I run the app...WHERE are all the options that I seen in the Market description??

I was prompted with recent versions to "register" or "authenticate" or "skip" but chose "skip." Do I have to register/authenticate now to get these options?? If not, where did the options go?? Lastly, are the missing options the cause of ads still coming through for me??

THANK YOU!! Sorry for my ignorance...:(
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
The symlink option only shows up if the app thinks it's needed. If you click on "check server daily for updates" the next check box will show up "automatically apply updates".

You don't need to register or authenticate, but doing so will give you access to additional lists of hostnames available, as will as compiling your own list of white and black lists.

I'm not sure what your problem is, you seem to comment about other stuff but don't say what's wrong.
[G1 Apps and Games] Scudderb:
Thanks for the info on the options I wasn't seeing.

And sorry if I wasn't clear with my problem but I did mention in my post that some ads were still coming through with these recent updates. I asked about the symlink and other options because I thought my not seeing those options might have contributed to the ads I was seeing?

I reboot my phone fairly often to swap batteries so dns should be cleared but I was wondering if there was some other issue causing me to see ads where I usually do not??
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
Ahhh ok, blocking host names is a cat and mouse game, as hosts get blocked new hosts will popup, if you run TCP dump and then check the dns.dump file it should show you any DNS requests, which you can try and pick out new host names.

If it's something for the common good I can add it to the default list of hosts, otherwise you can now black list individual hosts yourself via the adfree website.
[G1 Apps and Games] ymmuddiordna:
I got an issue with the new options too.

Like in the old versions only "check daily" and "use Symlink" are visible with an empty line between them. "Check daily" is enabled.

I disabled "check daily" and reenabled it. Now "Automatic apply Updates" becomes visible. I enabled this option also. Everything looks fine. I close the app and open it again. One again the "automatic apply" option is no longer visible.

I'm using as GalaxyS2 with 2.3.4

BTW good idea to add this new options. They sound very useful.
[G1 Apps and Games] thebrainkafka:
Hi, I'm using an SGS+ (i9001) and either Ad-Free nor the manual pushing of the hosts file is giving success in blocking adds. Host file is in /etc folder and >800kb.

Any ideas?

Thanks
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
Yea I'm aware of that bug, and have already fixed it, but I'm still working on other stuff and then I'll push out an update, however automatic update should still work even though the option isn't visible.
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
Well adfree won't work if you can't even do it manually.

Have you tried a smaller hosts file?

Also if I remember correctly some phones won't let you do it without getting into the boot rom and adding a symlink.
[G1 Apps and Games] Scudderb:
Ok, we're on track...I'm on track...thanks for the info and your work!! If I find anything "for the common good" I'll let you know and I'll check out the blacklist option if necessary. Gonna study/work with the app a bit more...thanks again for your help!
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
I just published a new version of AdFree 0.8.13, fixes the issue of disappearing checkboxes I hope, plus it adds a new screen which you can access from the main menu, "View TCP host names".

You have to have enabled TCP dump first, also if you loose networking tcpdump needs to be restarted I'm still trying to figure out how to detect the network change and restart tcpdump as needed.

Once you've done that and loaded apps/websites the tcp dump screen will display a list of unique hostnames in time order, clicking on a hostname will open up the AdFree website with the hostname, from there you can white/black list it.
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
0.8.0 Added background image

0.8.2 Added Mongoose, mini web server, and tcpdump to sniff DNS requests...

0.8.7 Added code to silently update the host file

0.8.9+ Added Japanese, Spanish translation.

0.8.12 Hopefully fixed some IO errors

0.8.13 Added screen to view logged host names, clicking on a host name will open a browser with the host name on the adfree website, fixed display issue with check boxes.

0.8.14 (re)Start TCP dump if enabled when network connection is (re)established.
[G1 Apps and Games] davedgd:
Just updated to the latest version on the market and saw the option to automatically update the hosts file. I'm able to check the box, but every time I quit the app and come back to it, the box reverts to unchecked. Any idea why?

PS. Thank you for adding an automatic update -- I was so sick of seeing the update notifications (of course I want to be up to date :)).
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
0.8.15 Fixed checkbox bug

I also fixed the layout for larger screens (tablets) and made it landscape instead of portrait...
[G1 Apps and Games] thebrainkafka:
also tried the symlink option. symlink is added to data/data/... , but also no adds are blocked.

whats the problem?
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
What's the exact version of ROM you are using, I'll try and load it on my phone to do further testing.
[G1 Apps and Games] brendel:
I don't if this is just me or not. I have the Galaxy Tab 7". I was able to see all the options fine when it was on portrait mode. Now that the app automatically sets itself to landscape, I can no longer see all the options. This is with the latest version from Android market. Is this how its suppose to be?
[G1 Apps and Games] thebrainkafka:
I'm using a i9001 and firm version: I9001XXKI2_I9001XXKI2_I9001DBTKG1

It's Ginger 2.3.3

Thx a lot - really appreciate your effort! :)

Andreas
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
Any chance of emailing me a screenshot?

I did set the GUI thingy in eclipse to 5.1" to redesign things, and it all seemed to fit properly.
[G1 Apps and Games] ymmuddiordna:
The settings for "automatically apply Updates" and "automatically create symlink" still does not work on my SGS2.

If I enable the options an close the app. On next opening the options are disabled again.
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
Automatically create symlink may fail, you may need to set it up manually as some ROMs pretend to allow some things, which can lead to all sorts of unpredictable things happening.

As for automatically apply updates, try setting this on it's own, all this does is save a preference that gets checked when the app does daily updates.
[G1 Apps and Games] cephraim:
So, at this point, what are the differences between AdFree and AdAway?
[G1 Apps and Games] jrxau:
Landscape problems on Sensation

Hi,

With the last couple of updates addfree has displayed only in landscape and not displayed the entire screen correctly...

See attached screen capture from my Sensation.

Thanks for the great work!
[G1 Apps and Games] bluezio:
Spanish translation

Hi there,

Thanks for the AdFree app! It's very useful, and free to boot. I've been using it for a long while now.

That said, as a native Spanish speaker, I think the Spanish translation could be improved a long way. I suppose the developer used Google Translate to do it: no sane Spanish speaker would translate "hosts" ("anfitriones" in Spanish) to "ejércitos" ("armies" in Spanish), and I don't really want to know where "mangosta" ("mongoose") came from :-D.

I wouldn't mind helping a bit with the Spanish translation, but I can't find the source code anywhere :-/. I guess I could unpack the .apk as a .zip and edit some XML resource file, but I'm not sure which one. Any hints?

Cheers,

Antonio
[G1 Apps and Games] Uncensored:
Their ad displays in chomp. I don't want to see it. Same applies to prepaidcardnow.mobi
[G1 Apps and Games] bobbyphoenix:
The ads in Chomp are because the app is free. You donate from the settings menu to make them stop. Support the dev instead of cheating them. Not calling you out but if the option to get rid of ads by support is there then we should use it. I block ads in apps that don't have paid or support options. Like words with friends. Ugh. I hate those ads.

Sent from my awesome Galaxy S II
[G1 Apps and Games] brendel:
Here is the screenshot for Samasung Galaxy Tab 7". Thank you for the support.
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
Yes you are correct that I used google translate, I was kinda interested in seeing how far automatic translations have come, judging by some of the spam I get I'd say they're getting better, but yea, no where near perfect yet.

That's the name of the small webserver software now included with AdFree, I must have missed changing it back to mongoose.

Well I can send you the strings file if you like, alternatively if you want to unzip the apk you just go into res/values-es/strings.xml or if you want the original english res/values/strings.xml then just pm me with the translated file and I'll replace the existing translation.
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
How annoying, it looks like your device is using the normal sized layout, but the screen res is at least 960px which google claims on their website to use the xlarge layout...

I'll have to have another crack at this.
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
Thanks for that, I'll have to have another go at figuring out how to deal with screen sizes and layouts etc.
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
0.8.16 version was skipped cause Google's interface was acting screwy...

0.8.17 Hopefully Fixed orientation issues
[G1 Apps and Games] kaibird:
still shows v0.8.14 on the market

don't see any update for v0.8.15
[G1 Apps and Games] lvsw:
New version

Problem with new version on Samsung Galaxy Tab7 - only horizontal orientation (((
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
AdFree is currently set to portrait for small and normal (google's terms) screens, and landscape for large and xlarge.
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
You sometimes have to reboot to force the market app to refresh, alternatively you can pull it from slideme.org

http://slideme.org/application/adfree
[G1 Apps and Games] McGiverGim:
Hi, the spanish translation is very bad... If you want I can help to translate it to spanish, but maybe, it will be easier to use crowdin.net and translate your app to a lot of languages...

Regards!
[G1 Apps and Games] jrxau:
Orientation problem fixed on HTC Sensation with latest update from the market.

Thanks for your efforts!
[G1 Apps and Games] thebrainkafka:
Last update made it work - thx!
[G1 Apps and Games] Jorgensen:
Adfree not working on SE Arc

Hi

I have installed Adfree on my SE Arc, and given Adfree superuser permissions. But when I compare different websites on my SE Arc and my old HTC Magic, Adfree is only removing the ads on my old HTC Magic.

I have searched google and xda for a solution but no luck so far. Does Adfree not work on stock SE Arc firmware/ROM?

-Jorgensen
[G1 Apps and Games] Kekoh:
Since one of the recent updates, Adfree checks in with Superuser ALOT. Why is this happening now? Most of the times I unlock the phone, a SU toast notification appears saying Adfree was granted permissions.

This has been happening ALOT lately. It will even show the toast notification when I'm in the middle of watching a video. Any explanation?

I am looking at the SU log, and it shows many entries in the same time frame.
[G1 Apps and Games] justmerob:
I just checked and am seeing the same thing....
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
I'm gonna assume you enabled TCP dump, TCP dump exits whenever the network interface is dropped, so I added code to AdFree to restart TCP dump whenever the network interface comes back up.

If you don't want to see so many SU messages force your network to stay up or only enable tcpdump when you actually need it.
[G1 Apps and Games] delta_foxtrot2:
I wish there wasn't so many ROMs, it'd make my life some what easier, but anyways, check to see if /etc/hosts are being written to correctly, if they are you might need to also check if your ROM allows write access while booted, otherwise you may need to get into recovery and manually create a symlink from /etc/hosts to /data/data/hosts
[G1 Apps and Games] Kekoh:
Thanks for the response, I'm sure that will fix it. What exactly does TCPdump do? (brief noob description if possible)